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Investigation Summary Report

T'Frere's Bed & BreakfastLafayette, LA

HISTORYT'Frere's Bed and Breakfast is a traditional Acadian-style home in Lafayette. Built sometime in the 1880's, T'Frere's is known for its beautiful décor and large closed in side porch which is ideal for entertaining; and entertaining is something this home knows how to do! From the time guests arrive, they are greeted with pure southern hospitality and plenty of good food! The evening time consists of mint juleps and finger foods while the morning time brings a breakfast comparable to a five-star restaurant. The breakfast is truly to die for, no pun intended!

The home's beauty is slightly overshadowed by tragedy that took place here years ago. I will tell you now, there are several variants to the story. I will tell you all versions, as tedious research from numerous individuals have been unable to uncover the truth. What we do know for certain is that a young woman by the name of Amelie (Omelie) Comeaux had quite a string of bad luck. The young school teacher was widowed at a young age and soon thereafter, tragically lost her young child all in the same year, both dying of yellow fever. Heartbroken and distraught, she moved into the home, which was owned by her uncle, Oneziphore Comeaux. Oneziphore's nickname was T'Frere, which is French for “little brother”. This simple alias is the origin of the current home's name.

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As if all of the terrible events that occurred weren't enough, tragedy would strike poor Amelie one last time. From this point, we have two main variations of the famed story. Some say, as Amelie was leaned over an on-site well to wash her face, she fell in and drowned! Another less told story is that while she was living with her uncle, she was having a secret relationship with a young man of mixed color. Neighboring locals found out and were so detested with the news, some say they intentionally threw Amelie down the well. It was never officially determined whether the death was an accident, suicide or murder. However, the death was ruled a suicide in the eyes of the Catholic Church and because of this, one final insult was given to Amelie, as she was not allowed to be buried on consecrated land. This meant that even in death, she would be away from her beloved husband and child whom she had lost way too soon.

Following our investigation, I was contacted by Holly, one of the staff members of T'Frere's. She had been working at the home for nearly ten years and was conducting the most in-depth history research on the home and the prior residents. She advised me that very little could be found on Amelie, especially where she buried. One bit of information that surprised me, as it had never been mentioned before, is that Oneziphore Comeaux had a young daughter who also had drowned in the same well that took Amelie's life.

EXPERIENCES


It doesn't come to a huge surprise to learn that Amelie is said to still wander the home and garden area. The well was located at the rear of the original home. Years later, additions were made to accommodate extra guests. The add-on was built on top of the well. Although the well has been long covered, the events of that terrible day seem to play out over and over on a regular basis, as guests and owners alike have reported strange encounters. Amelie's full-bodied apparition has been seen on numerous occasions, wearing a rose-colored dress. A lot of poltergeist-like activity has been reported here such as the alarm system activating for no reason, objects mysteriously moving through the house, doors moving on their own and pots severely rattling in the pantry. Several guests have experienced a very tight feeling on their chests along with a sudden inexplicable sadness that overcomes them. Although as tense as the activity may get, guests and owners alike do not feel a threat of any kind, as the spirit of Amelie is said to be that of a caring and loving sort.

Several years ago, an exterminator was in the attic area and was shocked to find a little more than a couple of bugs. Appearing from behind the brick chimney, he witnessed a petit young woman, in an antique dress. She calmly said to the gentleman, “venez voir” which is French for “come see”. Obviously, the exterminator did not agree and quickly departed the attic. Also, in one of the upstairs bedrooms, a guests once reported seeing the transparent apparition of an elderly woman. This claim comes as a surprise, as we have never heard other reports of an elderly woman being seen here and we are unsure as to her origins. Following our investigation, I was contacted by a gentleman who once lived in the subdivision immediately behind T'Frere's. He said that the entire time he and his family lived there, his young daughters reported seeing the apparition of an elderly woman with a bonnet. Sometimes she was seen bent over, as if she was working in a garden. Staff of T'Frere's has also said that another resident of that subdivision knocked on their door one day to report seeing a ghostly figure of an elderly woman in old clothing. With no tales of deaths involving an elderly woman, one must question if she even originates from the home itself? It is very possible she may have died nearby and is simply the roaming type of spirit. With further research and other's from the surrounding area hopefully stepping up to share their stories, we may possibly be able to obtain more answers.

INVESTIGATION

Date: 8/16/14Investigators: Doug Hargrave, Brad Duplechien and Scotty Rosatto

Equipment used: RT-EVP, 7 additional voice recorders, Surveillance DVR System w/ 4 additional Cameras, 2 Full Spectrum GoPro Cameras, 1 hand held camera, Mel Meter w/ Rem Pod built in, Stand REM pod, Ovilus, 2 Spirit Boxes and 4 EMF Meters.

PERSONAL REPORT (BRAD):We arrived at the home and was graciously welcomed by the innkeeper, Leah, who had been working at T'Frere's for about six years. She showed us around while bringing us up to date on the numerous reports from guests over the years.

After our tour, we decided on camera placement prior to the investigation. We placed six infra-red cameras throughout various rooms, focusing on the attic, the bedroom that once served as an infirmary for the sick and the other bedroom said to have been Amelie's. I then placed two full-spectrum GoPro cameras in the two upstairs bedrooms. Once the investigation officially began,


we conducted the regular EVP sessions and searched for our base line EMF sources. While one investigator was alone in the attic area, the REM-Pod device was activated several times. The REM-Pod is a unique tool that radiates its own independent magnetic. This field that is generated can be easily influenced by materials and objects that conduct electricity. If an object that emits its own energy gets anywhere near it, a set of four LED lights illuminate in various patterns, accompanied by an alarm, annotating the proximity of the object. The investigator was sitting down quite a ways away from the device and had no affect on the device activating the way it did. Whatever was near it, was quite close, as all four LED lights lit up simultaneously. The investigator called me to the attic via the two-way radio to advise me of what happened. As always, my string of bad luck kicked in, as all strange activity ceased once I arrived. I have often heard of people being “ghost magnets” but I normally serve as a repellant of sorts.

As the night progressed, we moved throughout the home, implementing various other tools such as the Spirit Box and the Ovilus. These are both instrumental transcommunication devices that use different methods to generate results. The Spirit Box scans detuned FM radio stations at a rate as fast as 100 milliseconds. The white noise that is generated is said to allow an entity the ability to communicate with you. In the case of the Ovilus, it converts fluctuations in environmental readings, such as electromagnetic energy, into phonetic responses. The device has a built in dictionary of over two thousand words. In theory, some feel that an entity is allowed to interact with and manipulate the device to generate specific words. Think of it as a paranormal Speak n' Say. We use the devices simply as a novelty, as we do not solely rely on their results as determining whether or not an entity is present but sometimes their results are a little too coincidental to be completely ignored.

As I said, sometimes the Spirit Box generates words that are just too coincidental to completely negate. In one particular instance, and investigator and I were sitting outside of the home, near the area where the well once sat. We were discussing the incident in the attic with the REM-Pod and the belief that I scare away the neighboring spirits. While the Spirit Box is scanning, the investigator jokingly asks, “What's the problem? You don't like Brad?” Suddenly, the device quit scanning and a clear voice came through that said, “Yes.” As I chuckled, I stood up and said, “Well fine Amelie, I'm just going to go back inside.” Once again, the box quite scanning and a clear female voice said, “Bye!”

I returned inside where another investigator was sitting with a news reporter, as the two both operated another Spirit Box and an Ovilus. As the reporter turned on her video camera, the Ovilus said, “video.” Again, we chuckled and I began telling them what had just happened outside. The investigator followed with asking, “If someone is here with us, can you tell us your name?” Suddenly, his Spirit Box stopped scanning and a female voice came through and said, “Amelie.”

ADDITIONAL PERSONAL REPORTS (SCOTTY):

Brad, Doug and I arrived at location a little after 7pm: We met with several people two reporters, and met with Leah the caretaker. She gave us a tour and showed us the home. We started unloading our equipment and preceded setting up for the investigation.

I decided to investigate the attic first off. When I arrived up there after a few mins I got this overwhelming feeling that someone was behind me. I had some interesting spirit box answers to my questions and some strange occurrences with the rem pod while I was in the attic. After


reviewing my voice recorder which was placed up there, the rem pod went off a min or so after I left and continued going off in small bursts during the night as per my evidence report above. I was able to debunk one claim in the upstairs bedroom to the right just as you walk up the stairs. Claims were that someone lying in the bed closest to the door had seen an apparition of an old woman at the window. I did get high emf readings by the headboard and around the pillow area of the bed. Which I thought was odd. However after further investigation, I found that the wall (which came down to a sharp angle close to the headboard) was bombarded with electrical interference. Most likely an electrical wire going down that wall which was approximately about 2-3 foot from the headboard of that bed. I was able to confirm this with my AC voltage detector as being electrical in nature, and my tri-field meter was getting readings of 20MG in that area. Down by the bed, I was getting anywhere from 5-10 mg at that level. I theorized that with such high emf and put on top of that sleep paralysis, it was most likely not a ghost but a hallucinogenic response to high emf levels.

The first room to the right as you walk into the front door however I observed very strange emf levels but could not justify any electrical interference in that area. The area was closes to the bed to the left as you walked into the room. About one foot from the bed and from about knee level to about head level I was getting high emf levels (in mid air) it seems. In an area of about 5 feet across (again in the middle of the room). I attempted to use my voltage detector to try and rule out any electrical interference, however I was not receiving any hits on the floor nor anywhere close to that area. I had a mel meter with built in rem pod sitting on that same bed, and at some point it did go off shortly as I was trying to rule out any electrical interference. However the room was so contaminated by people walking in and out I was not able to do a thorough investigation to try find out what this could be. Eventually the weird energy anomaly dissipated and I was not able to detect any emf in that area again by the later part of the night.

I think this location deserves a more thorough investigation with less contamination and a more serious investigation should be in order. I got enough evidence in the attic with the rem pod and creek and what appeared to be footsteps in the attic to warrant another investigation.

Evidence Captured: Attic Location: Placed Rem Pod, and had DVR surveillance Camera in attic location. I also placed a voice recorder in that location next to the surveillance camera. RT-EVP Recorder: 4:01: Spirt box: (Brad and I outside): “Brad, Bye” 4:34: Spirt box: “Yes” when I asked if it wanted Brad to leave 5:05: spirit box: “Yes” when I asked “do you want me to leave” Voice Recorder #1:

10:58: using Spirit box: Asked “what is your name”, Answered Amelie or Emily. 11:30: “yes” to my question 12:49: Spirit box: “Who’s here” Answer “Phil” 14:01: Spirit box “Anyone want to talk” Answer: “Scott” 14:21: Spirit Box: “Anyone Behind me”? Answer: “yes, nope”. 14:46: Spirit Box: “Bob” 21:18: Rem Pod Goes off by itself after I had left the attic completely 21:41: Rem Pod goes off again 21:58: Rem Pod Goes off Again 42:42: Strange Voice EVP 53:16: Rem Pod goes off again (No one in attic) 53:31: Sounds like footsteps or creek 1:24:42: Rem Pod goes off again MY Walkie I think caused this while in the attic


1:32:44-47: “Sprit box: “Say Brad” 1:32:59: Spirit box “John” 1:33:45: Sprit box “Rachael” 2:08:06: Creeks 2:16:35: Rem Pod Goes off again by itself (No one in attic) 2:25:18: Movement of some sort in attic 2:25:35: Breath (No one is in the attic) 2:27:14: Creek or Knock in attic 2:28:02 Rem Pod goes off 2:34:35-50: Strange Noise 2:36:08-19: Sounds like walking or foot steps 2:37:27: Clicking sound (Not camera) 2:37:59: Clicking sound again (Not camera) 2:49:12: Spirit Box: “Val or Valerie” 2:54:27,28,29,30: Strange Noise 3:00:31: Sounds like a sniffle (No one is in the attic) 3:05:32-34: Strange Noise 3:08:05-06: Sounds like a slamming door 3:21:09: Creek or Knock 3:22:22: Sounds like a sneeze (no one is in attic) 3:26:41: Creek 3:26:45-46: Creek Again 3:37:37-41 Loud Creek or sounds like someone threw something (No one is in the attic) 3:39:47: Sounds like a loud footstep (No one is in the attic)

Video Evidence Capture (Rem Pod in Attic) File: MPEG0008.avi 22:29:46-22:29:57: Rem Pod goes off with no one in attic 22:30:10-22:30:15: Rem Pod goes off again with no one in attic 22:30:26-22:30:31, 35-36: Rem Pod goes off no one in attic File: MPEG0009.avi 23:01:47-23:01:57: Rem Pod goes off, no one in attic

Attached Files

TFreresAmelie.mp3: Spirit Box answer saying AmelieTFreresAmelieSlow.mp3: Slowed down version of previous fileTFreresSound.mp3: Strand sound, sounding like a woosh or a whisperTFreresYes.mp3: After a question is asked, you hear a voice saying “Yes”. Not audibly heard.RemPod1.wav: The following 3 clips all capture the RemPod going off on its ownRemPod2.wavRemPod3.wav

TFreresKnock.mov: Audio captured on GoPro. When everyone was downstairs, a knock is heard close to the camera.TFreresRemPod.mov: Video showing the RemPod going off several times once Scotty leaves the room.

CONCLUSION


Based on reports of visitors, staff and even neighbors of T'Frere's Bed & Breakfast, we feel the home is occupied by not only Amelie but this unknown elderly woman we have spoken about. We have yet to obtain any evidence that can show proof of a haunting from the young girl who is said to have also drowned on the property. Much of the audio we have captured were unknown knocks and dragging sounds. Although interesting in nature due to the fact we know that no one was present when these sounds were captured, we can't solely take these sounds and validate that T'Frere's is in fact haunted.

However, obtaining the electronic voice phenomena of something saying, “Yes” as well as the random activations of the RemPod device, we determine that the potential for paranormal activity is much more increased. By the standards of some amateur groups, evidence we have obtained would be more than enough to call T'Frere's extremely haunted, walk off and leave the owners with unanswered questions. Fortunately, Louisiana Spirits do not operate under these methods and we are a little more strict with our evidence and research.

We do feel that T'Frere's is somewhat active due to the evidence we obtained. We also feel that the activity may come in spurts, which is the reason we would like to look into several follow-up investigations of the home. In many cases, intelligent hauntings, which seems like what we are dealing with, must warm up to you in order to interact with you more. Personally, I do not feel that we visited the home on one of its more active nights. With future visits and further research of the land, along with the mysterious lives of the former residents, I truly feel we can answer some long asked questions.

We would like to thank the gracious owners and staff of T'Frere's for allowing us access into their beautiful home. We look forward to future investigations here and assisting them in any seminars and public events that they may have planned.


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